Handicapped children writing aid



W. C. BRASS HANDICAPPED CHILDREN WRITING AID March 19, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 5, 1965 INVENTOR. WILLIAM c. BRAss NW6?.

ATTORNEY March 19, 1968 w. c. BRASS.

HANDICAPPED CHILDREN WRITING AID 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1966 NVENTOR. l WILLIAM C. BRASS ATTORNEY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN WRITING AID Filed Jan. 5, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM C. BRASS y m sy/44.41,! Q.

ATTORNEY March 19, 1968 Filed Jan. 5, 1966 W. C. BRASS HANDICAPPED CHILDREN WRITING AID 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 11A

INVENTOR. WILLIAM C. BRASS BY MQW ATTORNEY United States Patent Oilice 3,373,599 Patented Mar. 19, 1568 3,373,509 HANDICAPPED CHILDREN WRITING AID William C. Brass, 354 N. Audubon Road, Indianapolis, Ind. 46219 Filed Jan. 5, 1966, Ser. No. 518,830 10 Claims. (Cl. 35-36) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A writing aid for the physically handicapped comprising a base for supporting a writing instrument in a position to mark upon a sheet of paper or the like held upon a hard, smooth surface, said base being provided with a preferably bulbous grip and, in its preferred form, being magnetically attracted to the element underlying the paper to a degree which does not significantly interfere with movement of said base over the surface of the paper.

This invention relates to a device which may be held in a hand of a handicapped individual (either a child or an adult) and manipulated over a paper held in a lixed position.

In many poliomyelitis cases, the victims hand are so aiected that a pencil, crayon, pen or other device may not be gripped. The lingers just will not close over the writing member to give a grip permitting the device to be guided for writing or drawing. Other conditions may be present such as the inability of the individual to move his hand in a vertical direction to any controllable degree. Wrist motion may be absent. Other individuals 'may be handicapped due to accidents or heredity, and yet a hand may bepushed or pulled approximately horizontally. There are some individuals who are unable to lower a hand to come within normal writing position over a paper. These are but a few of the conditions encountered in trying to provide some lmeans for the handicapped to write or draw so that he may express himself by making a visual written picture.

The present invention meets these various physical manifestations by providing an exceedingly simple device readily varied to meet diiferent hand gripping abilites to guide a writing element into some recognizable pattern. In general, the inventive device embodies an ink pencil; means for adjustably positioning the writing point so as to leave a mark on paper requiring only an occasional adjustment; a base carrying a magnet; a metal sheet over which paper may be placed and held; and a lbulbous member about which ngers and thumb may extend to a sufficient degree to manipulate the base over the metal sheet. Of course, the primary object of the invention is to enable the handicapped to manipulate the device to that degree whereby an intelligent picture in writing or pictorial illustration may be made.

A further important object of the invention resides in the unique combination of elements which is not easily disarranged or broken down by accident or purposely. Some handicapped children have a strong tendency to put objects such as pencils in their mouths and to chew on the pencil ends.

Thus, a further object of the invention is to give the device a utilitarian shape such as will not lend itself to suggestions inviting it to be chewed upon.

A further object of the invention resides in the overall simplicity and practically no maintenance of the inventive devic-e other than adjusting the pencil from time to time, or the shifting of the hand grip to meet the condition of the handicappedr Then an important object is to present a device which may be made at a relatively low cost of production thereby permitting the device tobe widely used in courses of teaching or rehabilitating the handicapped to the point that he may express himself in writing as above indicated.

These and other objects will become apparent in the following detailed description of the invention with refer. ence being made to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a view in top perspective, in reduced scale, of a complete device;

FIG. 1A is a view on an enlarged scale of a detail on the line 1A-1A in FIG. l;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation and partial section of one form of a mobile writing instrument on approximately a full scale;

FIG. 3 is a view in horizontal section on the line 3 3 in FIG. 2, omitting the pen;

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical section on the line 4 4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view in fragmentary section of the form of device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a side view in fragmentary section of a slightly modified form of the inventive device;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view in fragmentary section of the device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a further modiiied form of the inventive device;

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view in fragmentary section of the device shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side view in fragmentary section of a further modified form of the inventive device;

FIG. 10A is a bottom plan view of the form of the device shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. l1 is a side view in fragmentary section of a further modied form of the inventive device similar to that form shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and with pen adjusting means; and

FIG. 11A is a view in horizontal section on the line 11A-11A in FIG. 1l.

Referring first to that form as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a base 12 is formed to have a generally, horizontal cylindrical cavity 13, herein shown as extending in a base fore and aft direction, and having an opening 14 extending longitudinally of the underside 15 of the base 12. A cylindrical magnet 16, preferably of the so-called permanent type, has a diameter less than that of the cavity 13. The magnet 16 drops downwardly to the lowermost side of the cavity 13 and protrudes through the opening 14 by a matter of a few thousandths of an incn. When the base 12 rests upon a flat surface, the magnet 16 will be lifted in the cavity 13 to have the undermost portion of the magnet substantially tangent to the underside of the base 12. The magnet 16 has arlength shorter than that of the cavity 13 as indicated in FIG. 2. The ends of the cavity 13 are closed thereby allowing a limited free travel of the magnet 16.

A post member 17 extends vertically upwardly and centrally from a rear end portion of the base 12. The member 17 m'ay be tubular, or as herein shown may be a solid bar. Preferably it is molded integrally with the base 12. Both the post 17 and the base 12 are of plastic material, preferably.

4On this post 17 is mounted an encircling bulbous member 18, to have the post 17 extend approximately diametrically therethrough. The member 18 is made of that exterior shape which will readily fit between the thumb and fingers of an individual to be thereby engaged by the fingers having but limited engaging travel. Normally this member 18 is a sphere. It will be provided in a varying degree of resiliency, such as a hard, practically incompressible body either solid, or as a shell as shown in FIG. 2, or in solid form with varying degrees of resiliency to meet the degree of movement of the thumb and ngers, to the end that a compatible feeling will be experienced by the individual. AIn any event, the member 13 frictionally grips the post 17 to be retained therealong at selected heights.

A web 19 extends integrally of the base 12 and integrally of and from the post 17 forwardly to the front end of the base 12. At the front end of the web 19, there is a tube 20 extending upwardly and rearwardly at an angle such as around 75 to 85 degrees from the underside plane of the base 12. A pen 21, in the nature of a pencil but carrying a reservoir of ink in the usual and well known manner is slidingly fitted within the tube 20 to have its writing point 22 extend downwardly from the tube to at least the underside plane of the base 12. The pen is selected to have a wood or similar pin point penetrable body. The tube 20 has a hole 22 through its forward side sufiiciently large to receive therethrough a pin 23 which is fixed to t-he rear or underside of an elastic tongue 24. The tongue 24 is fixed by an upper end portion to the tube 20 and extends downwardly against and along the tube 20 to have the pin inserted through the hole 22 and, by its point, into the body of the pen 21 as a means of holding the pen 21 in a fixed position along the tube 20. 'The tongue 24 may be lifted by its lower end as indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 2 to withdraw the pin 23 from pen engagement to permit longitudinal shifting of the pen 21 to obtain the desired positioning of the point 22. Then the tongue 24 may be released to allow the pin 23 to bear on the pen 21, following which pressure is exerted on the tongue over t-he pin 23 to cause the pin to engage in the body thereof and thus secure the pen 21 against longitudinal displacement.

The device so far described constitutes the mobile part of the inventive means.

A ferrous metal sheet 25 is provided and, in the present illustration, is shown, FIGS. l and 1A, as being mounted upon a clip board 26. Side flanges 27 and 28 are overturned respectively from the sides of the sheet 25 in spaced relation above the sheet to provide spaces to receive thereunder a plurality of sheets 29 of paper. Preferably the bottom edge portions of the sheets lare inserted under end flanges 30, 31. The upper or top end portions of the sheets 29 are under the jaw 32 of the usual spring clip 33. [In this manner the sheets 29 are firmly secured in position, but may be removed one at a time as may be desired. A minor spring clip 34 is fixed to the major spring clip 33 as a means for holding a piece of work (not shown) to be copied.

To use the device 35, the board 26 is laid upon a table (not shown). The mobile unit gener-ally designated by the numeral 35 is placed -base down on the paper. The pen 21 is adjusted to its position to cause it to ride on the paper 2.9 to that degree of pressure which will leave a mark or line on the paper when the unit is slid over the paper. The ball 18 is adjusted to a height along the post 17 to that position most easily gripped by the individuals hand. Then the individual is urged to push the device 35 over the paper 29 and thus permit him to see the result of that action. From that step, the individual is encouraged to continue shifting the device around until he may be able to copy some work, such as his name for example. Perhaps he may be able to draw some picture or design. In any event, these individuals become enthusiastic in seeing lines develop on the paper under their own guidance.

The device 35 will remain in contact with the paper 29 and not easily tip over by reason of the presence of the magnet bar 16 being attracted by the metal sheet 25. The device will not be able to skid or get away from the control of the abnormal hand of the individual. On the other hand, the magnet 16 is of such size and shape that the device 35 is easily shifted over the paper.

Some individuals may require magnets of more or less field strength or more individual magnets. Also, the shape of the base 12 may be varied, particularly for those individuals who may need to have observance of the point 22 at all times.

For example, the modification illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, has a triangular base 36 with its wide end 37 at the rear. In this case, a modified magnetic system is shown. The base 36 is provided with two short lengths of cylindrical magnets 38 and 39, each with a rounded under end. The magnets 38 and 39 are both horizontally and vertically freely carried in vertically positioned cylindrical walled cavities such as the cavity 40, FIG. 6. The lower ends of the cavities are restricted to circular openings of less diameter than that of the cavity 40 to retain the magnets 38 and 39 to have but a small part of the rounded nose 41 of each magnet extend therethrough and the magnets be retained within their respective cavities.

The `modified form of FIGS. 6 and 7 has the ball 18 carried on a post 42 which extends upward from the base 36 and have its upper end come into contact with and be xedly connected to the tube 20 which is fixed by its lower end portion to the forward end portion of the base 36 by the tube lower end portion. The pen 21 is carried through the tube 20 as before. This modification would also be used by the individual who has very limited ability to llift his hand above the horizontal. Therefore the ball 18 may be shifted only a limited amount as indicated from the solid line to the broken line positions.

In the modification illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the device 35 is shown as one to be used by the individual who may be limited to a major degree to a pushing travel of his hand. In this case, the base 43 is generally rectangular as viewed from its underside, FIG. 9. Two roller type magnets 44 and 45 are loosely carried in the respective cavities 46 and 47. The grip ball 18 is carried on the rear portion of a horizontally disposed post 48. This post 48 extends forwardly over a web 49 fixed to the top side of the base 43. A pen tube 5t) is fixed to the forward end of the post 48 and of the web 49 to be in an inclined position to slope rearwardly and upwardly above the post 48. The angle of inclination of the tube 50 is shown as being at approximately the minimum for pen writing, this angle being close to 60 degrees. The tube 50 is shorter than the tube 20 as a possible variation therefrom, but not as desirable as the longer tube 20 which gives a greater protection to the pen 21. The position of the pen 21 longitudinally of the tube 50 is adjustably fixed as in the preceding forms, with the tongue reversed in position as carrying the pin 23 at its upper end and being fixed to the tube 50 by its other end.

The modified form shown in FIGS. l0 and 10A is substantially the same as that shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the change residing in the base 51 which is rectangular instead of triangular so that a larger number of the magnets 39 may be carried, here shown as four in number in place of two. The base 51 is diagonal positioned in relation to the central fore and aft axis of the device, which position tends effectively to widen the base .and still preserve good visibility of the point 22.

In FIGS. 11 and 11A is shown means for adjustably changing the angle of the pen 22 as may be desirable in some cases. This adjusting may be made by any suitable means, herein shown as a turnbuckle as one means. The device in the modification shown in these FIGS. ll and 11A uses the base 51, the ball 18, and the pen 21. The tube 20a is hinged to the forward end portion of the base 51 by being pivotally secured by trunnions 52 and 53 rockably carried by and between the arms 54 and 55 fixed to the base 51. The tube 20a has the upper screw end portion of a turnbuckle 56, rockably connected with the tube 20a, and a lower screw end portion rockably connected to the base 51 in any manner such as by engaging a c ross pin 57 carried between the two ears 58 and 59, FIG. 11A, fixed to the base 51. The ball 18 is vertically shiftable along the vertical post 60. Thus in this form the pen 21 carried by the tube 20a may be rocked through a considerable number of degrees to be positioned at the desired angle by rotating the turnbuckle sleeve up in the usual and well known manner.

The term pen used herein is intended to mean either a lead pencil or an ink pencil including a fountain pen and the term pencil will therefore include both the lead and ink pencil. The term ball generically includes both a spherical ball or a hand gripping device of bulbous nature and shaped, such as by molding, to tit within a hand to have areas around which lingers and thumb may be tted.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in the precise `forms as now best known to me, it is obvious that structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and I do not desire to be limited to those forms beyond the limitations which may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device for aiding handicapped individuals in writing, comprising a base;

a magnet carried by the base;

a member secured to the base and carrying a ball;

a pen carried by the base; and

a ferrous metal sheet, over which paper may be carried;

said base being carried by said sheet to be shifted over the paper thereon by guidance set up by gripping and moving said ball;

said pen having a writing point in a position to mark upon said paper as said base is shifted;

said base being yieldingly restrained against free movement by interaction between said magnet and said sheet.

2. The structure of claim 1, in which said base has a cavity opening in -part through the underside of said base, and being of greater length and diameter than those of said magnet, whereby the magnet has a limited movement in the cavity and is exposed through said opening.

3. The structure of claim 1, in which said ball is located at the rear portion of the base;

and

said pen is located at the forward portion of the base and has a point directed downwardly in front of the base; and

said magnet urging said base toward said paper eliminating the necessity of the individual pressing downwardly on the base and pen to obtain pen point writing pressure. 4. The structure of claim 1, in which there is a post carried by the base, which post extends through said ball. 5. The structure of claim 1, in which a tube is carried by the forward end portion of the base; and said pen is slidably, axially carried therein. 6. The structure of claim 5, in which there is means for f retaining said pen in different axial said tube. 7. The structure of claim 1, in which said metal sheet is characterized by having flanges extending thereover to hold said paper against lateral shifting, and further by having means retaining said paper against longitudinal shifting; and said magnet has a rounded under surface. 8. The structure of claim 5, in which said tube is rockably interconnected to said base; and

there is means retaining the tube in selected rocked positions, thereby directing the pen at selected axial angles to said sheet. 9. The structure of claim 4, in which said ball is frictionally held a selected position along said post to provide locations of the ball to meet varying location needs of the handicapped. 10. The structure of claim 6, in which said pen retainmg means comprises an elastic tongue tixed by one end to said tube to extend therealong a distance; said tube is provided with a hole therethrough opening to a side of said pen; and a pin carried by the other end of said tongue and guided thereby to enter said hole and normally bear against said pen.

positions through References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,566,375 9/1951 Rocklin 120-54XR 3,238,643 3/ 1966 OConnor 35-36 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

W. H. GRIEB, Assistant Examiner. 

